Metering device for securement to the hopper or container of a distributor of seeds and other fluent material

ABSTRACT

A device which can be secured to the hopper or container of a seed or other fluent material distributor and which serves to regulate the amount of seed or other material which passes from the container to the spreader or broadcaster of the distributor. The metering device includes a mounting plate which is securable to the bottom wall of the fluent material container and which has a discharge opening formed therein. A shiftable door plate is carried by the mounting plate and can be made to selectively cover a portion of the discharge opening in the mounting plate and thus regulate the effective area of the discharge opening.

D United States Patent [191 [111 3,738,546

Speicher June 12, 1973 [54] METERING DEVICE FOR SECUREMENT TO 2,565,4278/1951 Herd 222/410 X THE HOPPER 0 CONTAINER OF A 2,882,060 4/1959Speicher 239/687 1,966,192 7/1934 Tiede 222/410 DISTRIBUTOR OF SEEDS ANDOTHER FLUENT MATERIAL Inventor: Paul L. Speicher, North Manchester,

Ind.

The Cyclone Seeder Company, Urbana, Ind.

Filed: May 10, 1971 Appl. No.: 141,550

Assignee:

Field of Search 222/177, 178, 410,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1968 Speicher' 239/683 1/1877Pearce 239/687 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerDavidA. Scherbel Att0rney-0ltsch & Knoblock [57] ABSTRACT A device which canbe secured to the hopper or container of a seed or other fluent materialdistributor and which serves to regulate the amount of seed or othermaterial which passes from the container to the spreader or broadcasterof the distributor. The metering device includes a mounting plate whichis securable to the bottom wall of the fluent material container andwhich has a discharge opening formed therein. A shiftable door plate iscarried by the mounting plate and can be made to selectively cover aportion of the discharge opening in the mounting plate and thus regulatethe effective area of the dischargeopening.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEB 2 3. 738 546 SHEU 1 Bf 2 INVENTOR.P14 UL L. SPE/CHER ATTORNEYS METERING DEVICE FOR SECUREMENT TO THEHOPPER OR CONTAINER OF A DISTRIBUTOR OF SEEDS AND OTHER FLUENT MATERIALSUMMARY oF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device which can besecured to a container for fluent material, such as seed or other fluentmaterial, and which, in conjunction with a broadcasting or spreadermeans, will serve to regulate the discharge rate of the material as itpasses from the container to the broadcasting or spreader means fordistribution. Specifically, this invention hasapplication to a meteringdevice which is of an integral construction and which can be secured asa unit to a hopper of a fluent material distributor.

Broadcast seeders have long utilized metering devices which serve toregulate the discharge rate of the seed from the seed hopper. Examplesof such devices can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,843,387 and 3,175,739.Heretofore, these metering devices have been constructed as an integralpart of the seed hopper, thereby increasing the cost of manufacture ofthe seeder as well as making repair of the seeder more difficult. Inthis invention, the metering device is of a separately constructedentity which can easily be secured as a unit to the seeder hopper bymeans of rivets or similar attachment means.

The metering device of this invention includes a mounting plate whichhas a discharge opening therein and which carries a shiftable doorplate. The door plate can be shifted to cover any desired portion of thedischarge opening in the mounting plate and thus vary the effective areaof the discharge opening. The mounting plate is adapted to be secured tothe bottom wall of a hopper or similar container which holds the seed orother fluent material. By designing the metering device as a separateattachable unit, the container for the seed or fluent material can beformed of plastic, metal or other type construction. Additionally, it iscontemplated that the metering device of this invention can be removablysecured to throw-away containers.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a meteringdevice for a seed or other fluent material distributor which is ofeconomical construction and which can be secured as a unit to the fluentmaterial container of the distributor.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a metering device whichis for use in the distribution of fluent material, which is of aunitary, separate construction and which may be removably secured, ifdesired, to the container for the material.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a metering devicefor seed or other fluent material distributors which is of an improved,economical construction.

Other objects of this invention become apparent upon a reading of theinventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of thisinvention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and descriptionwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the metering device as seen from above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the metering device as seen from below.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a broadcast spreader having themetering device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 secured thereto.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the spreader of FIG. 3 shownwith portions sectioned to better illustrate the construction of themetering device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferredembodiment'illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described inorder to best explain the principles of the invention and itsapplication and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in theart to best utilize the invention.

The metering device illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes amounting plate 10 having a horizontal wall part 12 and a vertical wallpart 14 which is integrally joined to one end edge 15 of wall part 12.An elongated material discharge opening 16 having spaced side edges 18and 20 is formed in horizontal wall part 12. An opening 22, which isadapted to receive the shaft of a broadcast impeller when the mountingplate is secured to a spreader, is formed in the mounting plate and islocated between opening 16 therein and end edge 24 of wall part 12.Oppositely located return bent tabs 26 are formed at the side edges ofwall part 12. Each tab 26 includes a lip 28 which preferably par allelsand is spaced from lower face 30 of wall part 12.

A sliding door plate 32 confronts lower face 30 of wall part 12 and isheld in an adjacent relationship thereto by having its side marginscarried between tab lips 28 and face 30 .ofthe wall part. The side edges33 of door plate 32 preferably fit with sufficient lateral clearancewithin tabs 26 so that the door plate is able to experience bothlongitudinal and lateral movement relative to wall part 12. Door plate32 includes a depression part 34 formed in its one end margin 35 and aslot 36 formed in its opposite end margin. Spaced parallel flanges 38project downwardly from door plate 32 and define the side edges of slot36 therein. An opening 40 is formed in door plate 32 between depression34 and slot 36 therein. Opening 40 is defined by side edge portions 42and 44 and has a length, as measured across the width of the door plate,which preferably exceeds the length of opening 16 in wall part 12 sothat the door plate may be shifted laterally between tabs 26 without theend edge portions 43 of opening 40 covering any substantial portion ofdischarge opening 16.

Vertical wall part 14 of mounting plate 10 projects above upper face 46of horizontal wall part 12. One or more guide tabs 48 are formed in wallpart 12 and project below lower face 30 thereof. Each guide tab 48includes an aperture through which a rod 50 is slidably inserted. Oneend of rod 50 includes a down'bent hook part 52 which projects withclearance through an opening in depression part 34 of the door plate.Rod 50 projects outwardly of the plane of the outer face of wall part 14and has its opposite end formed into a U- shaped, upwardly projectinghook part 54 which serves as a cam follower. Longitudinal movement ofrod 50 within guide tabs 48 causes a corresponding longitudinal movementof door plate 32 relative to mounting plate 10. As door plate 32 isshifted longitudinally rela tive to wall part 12, edge portion 42 of thedoor plate opening will be caused to cover and uncover portions ofdischarge opening 16 in wall part 12 and thus vary the effective area ofthe discharge opening.

A rotatable gauge member 56 is carried at the outer face of verticalwall part 14. A tightening bolt 58 having a winged-head 60 extends withclearance through a coaxial bore in gauge member 56 and through aregistering opening in wall part 14. The threaded end of bolt 58 isturned into a nut 62 which is spot welded or otherwise fixedly securedto the inner face of wall part 14. Gauge member 56 includes a helicalcam surface 57 which is concentric to bolt 58. Hook portion 54 of rod50, in one operative position thereof, abuts cam surface 57 of gaugemember 56 so as to cause edge portion 42 of the door plate to cover aselected portion of discharge opening 16 in wall part 12. The extent towhich discharge opening 16 is covered by edge portion 42 of the doorplate depends upon the rotative position of gauge member 56. The gaugemember preferably has indicia printed thereon which permits the user ofthe metering device, upon loosening of bolt 58, to rotate the gaugemember and select a specifically sized discharge opening for themetering device. Once a specifically sized discharge opening has beenselected by the user, bolt 58 is tightened. Hook portion 54 of rod 50,in addition to its one operative position in which it abuts cam surface57 of the gauge member so as to position edge portion 42 thereof over aselected portion of discharge opening 16, has a second operativeposition in which it is positioned spacedly outwardly from gauge member56 with end margin 35 of the door plate abutting a guide tab 48. Whenend margin 35 so abuts a guide tab 48, edge portion 42 of the door plateslightly overlaps edge of discharge opening 16 and thereby closes thedischarge opening to prevent flow of particulate material therethrough.

In order to secure the metering device above described to the hopper 68of the spreader type distributor shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, horizontal wallpart 12 of the mounting plate is provided with a plurality of spacedholes 70. Holes 70 are circumferentially spaced about wall part 12 withone such hole 70 being located between discharge opening 16 and nearesttab 48 of wall part 12. The spreader illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is ofthe broadcast type, having a tubular frame 72 which is supported'by apair of wheels 74 interconnected by a rotatable axle 76. A handle 77 isconnected by brace members 78 to frame 72. Handle 77 includes aground-engaging leg 80 which, in conjunction with wheels 74, serves as athree-point support for frame 72.

' Hopper 68, which may be constructed of a polyvinyl or other typeplastic material, includes side wall 82 and an inset tapered bottom wall83 having a flattened section 84 which has an opening 86 therein. Hopper68 sets within frame 72 and is preferably secured thereto by suitableattachment means, such as rivets. Horizontal wall part 12 of themounting plate has its upper face 46 positioned against bottom wallsection 84 of hopper 68, with openings 16 and 22 therein located underopening 86 of the hopper. Rivets 88, or similar attachment means, extendthrough holes 70 in the mounting plate and registering openings 85 inbottom wall section 84 and serve to attach the metering device to thehopper. Rivet 88', by means of the location of its receiving hole 70, ispositioned within opening 40 in door plate 32 in all operative positionsof the door plate so as not to interfere with the operation of themetering device. Vertical wall part 14 of mounting plate 10 and gaugememher 56 carried thereby preferably extend upwardly and are positionedjust under inset portion 90 of hopper side wall 82.

An impeller 92, which serves to the distribute the material in radialfashion as it falls through discharge opening 16 in the metering device,is positioned under the discharge opening and is rotatably carried by avertical shaft 94. Impeller 92 is preferably of a molded plasticconstruction consisting of a blade-carrying part 96 and a hub part 98through which shaft 94 extends. Hub part 98 carries a cam member 100.Impeller 92 is secured to shaft 94 by a pin 101 which is pressed fittedthrough registering apertures in impeller parts 96 and 98 and shaft 94.The lower end of shaft 94 is connected to a gear which forms a part of atransmission between the shaft and spreader axle 76. As the spreader ispushed by handle 77, wheels 74 cause the rotation of axle 76 whichtransmission 95 serving to impart rotary motion to shaft 94 and impeller92. The upper end portion of shaft 94 extends through slot 36 in doorplate 32 and opening 22 in wall part 12 of the mounting plate andprojects into the interior of hopper 68 where an agitator 102 may besecured thereto. A bushing 103 is pressed into opening 22 in wall part12 and journals the upper end portion of shaft 94. Cam member ofimpeller 92 is spaced below lower face 30 of wall part 12 and ispositioned between flanges 38 of the door plate. As impeller 92 isrotated, cam member 100 contacts in alternate fashion flanges 38 andcauses oscillatory movement of the door plate between tabs 26 of wallpart 12. An actuator rod 104 having a knob 106 at the upper end thereofextends downwardly through handle 77 of the seeder. The lower endportion 108 of rod 104 projects outwardly through an opening in thehandle at the approximate level of hook portion 54 of rod 50. The lowerend of actuator rod 104 is formed into an eyelet 107 which receivesouter leg 1 10 of hook portion 54.

When knob 106 of rod 104 is pushed inwardly toward handle 77, inner leg111 of hook portion 54 engages cam surface 57 of gauge member 56 toposition edge portion 42 of the door plate over a selected portion ofdischarge opening 16 in mounting plate 10. To close discharge opening 16in the mounting plate, knob 106 is pulled outwardly away from the handle76, thus causing edge portion 42 of the door plate to slightly overlapedge 20 of the discharge opening.

Mounting plate 10 and door plate 32 may be formed from sheet metal in asimple stamping and forming operation. Additionally, plates 10 and 32may be formed of a molded plastic; in which case bushing 103 can bemolded as a part of plate 10. Mounting plate 10 can be bolted as well asriveted to hopper 68 and, in some constructions of the container forfluent material can be fitted lengthwise into slotted retaining meansformed in the bottom wall of the container. Also, in some applicationsof this invention the horizontal wall part 12 of the mounting plate canbe bonded with a suitable adhesive to the marginal portions of the sideor bottom wall of the container for fluent material. In comeconstructions of this invention the aperture in vertical wall part 14 ofthe mounting plate through which bolt 58 is inserted can be of athread-gripping configuration, such as a Tinnerman nut construction, forthreaded engagement with the bolt. It is further contemplated that bolt58 could be eliminated and a suitable detent and groove engagement meansincorporated between wall part 14 and dial knob or gauge member 56permitting incremental gauge-setting rotation of the gauge member.Onesuch detent and groove means could constitute saw teeth formed on theback side of gauge member 56 which match with saw teeth formed on theouter face of wall part 14 and which are held in releasable lockedengagement therewith by a tension device.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedetails herein given but may be modified within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A metering device for use in conjunction with means usable fordistributing seed, plant and other fluent material and which including acontainer for said material having a bottom wall with an openingtherein, comprising a mounting plate having a horizontal wall part and avertical wall part joined to one edge of said horizontal wall pa'rt,said horizontal wall part having a material discharge opening thereinand including means used in securing said mounting plate to saidcontainer with said discharge opening being positioned under saidcontainer opening to permit the material in said container to passthrough said discharge opening, said discharge opening being defined byspaced first and second edges, a door plate, said door plate includingspaced first and second edge portions defining an opening in said doorplate, said horizontal wall part including means supporting said doorplate in an adjacent confronting relationship to the lower face of saidhorizontal wall part, said supporting means permitting said door plateto shiftably move relative to said mounting plate and cover portions ofsaid discharge opening to vary the effective discharge area of saiddischarge opening, the first edge portion of said door plate openinglocated in all operative positions of said door plate between the firstedge of said discharge opening and said vertical wall part, the secondedge portion of said door plate opening defining inconjunction with saidfirst edge of said discharge opening the effective discharge area ofsaid discharge opening and having one limit position adjacent the secondedge of said discharge opening wherein said discharge opening iscompletely open and another limit position adjacent the first edge-ofsaid discharge opening wherein the discharge opening is closed, saiddoor plate supporting means permitting oscillatory movement of said doorplate relative to said mounting plate in a direction generallytransverse to said shiftable movement of said door plate in varying theeffective discharge area of the discharge opening, a shiftable memberhaving an axis carried by said mounting plate, one end of said memberconnected to said door plate, the other end of said member defining acam follower located adjacent said vertical wall part, gauging meansincluding a cam sur face carried by said vertical wall part, saidgauging means being located between said cam follower and said doorplate, said cam follower comprising a U- shaped portion off-set from theaxis of said member and having inner and outer legs, the inner leg ofsaid cam follower abutting said cam surface to position the second edgeportion of said door plate a selected dis tance from said first edge ofsaid discharge opening, said gauging means being movable to vary thelocation of said cam follower relative to said mounting plate and toposition said door plate secondl edge portion said selected distancefrom said discharge opening first edge, and actuator rod means connectedto the outer leg of said cam follower for shifting the second edgeportion of said door plate between its said limit positions.

2. A metering device for use in conjunction with means usable fordistributing seed, plant and other fluent material and which includes acontainer for said material having a bottom wall with an openingtherein, comprising a mounting plate having a horizontal wall part and avertical wall part joined to one edge of said horizontal wall part, saidhorizontal wall part having a material discharge opening therein andincluding means used in securing said mounting plate to said containerwith said discharge opening being positioned under said containeropening to permit the material in said container to pass through saiddischarge opening, said discharge opening being defined by spaced firstand second edges, a door plate, said door plate including spaced firstand second edge portions defining an opening in said door plate, saidhorizontal wall part including means supporting said 'door plate in anadjacent confronting relationship to the lower face of said horizontalwall part, said supporting means permitting said door plate to shiftablymove relative to said mounting plate and cover portions of saiddischarge opening to vary the effective discharge area of said dischargeopening, one of said first and second edge portions of said door plateopening defining in conjunction with said first edge of said dischargeopeningthe effective discharge area of said discharge opening and havingone limit position adjacent the second edge of said discharge openingwherein said discharge opening is completely open and another limitposition adjacent the first edge of said discharge opening wherein thedischarge opening is closed, a shiftable member having an axis carriedby said mounting plate, one end of said member connected to said doorplate, the other end of said member defining a cam follower locatedadjacent said vertical wall part, gauging means including a cam surfacecarried by said vertical wall part, said gauging means being locatedbetween said cam follower and said door plate, said cam followercomprising a U-shaped portion off-set from the axis of said member andhaving inner and outer legs, the inner leg of said cam follower abuttingsaid cam surface to position said one edge portion of said door plate aselected distance from said first edge of said discharge opening, saidgauging means being movable to vary the location of said cam followerrelative to said mounting plate and to posi tion said door plate oneedge portion said selected distance from said discharge opening firstedge, and actuator rod means connected to the outer leg of said camfollower for shifting said one edge portion of said door plate betweenits said limit positions.

1. A metering device for use in conjunction with means usable fordistributing seed, plate and other fluent material and which including acontainer for said material having a bottom wall with an openingtherein, comprising a mounting plate having a horizontal wall part and avertical wall part joined to one edge of said horizontal wall part, saidhorizontal wall part having a material discharge opening therein andincluding means used in securing said mounting plate to said containerwith said discharge opening being positioned under said containeropening to permit the material iN said container to pass through saiddischarge opening, said discharge opening being defined by spaced firstand second edges, a door plate, said door plate including spaced firstand second edge portions defining an opening in said door plate, saidhorizontal wall part including means supporting said door plate in anadjacent confronting relationship to the lower face of said horizontalwall part, said supporting means permitting said door plate to shiftablymove relative to said mounting plate and cover portions of saiddischarge opening to vary the effective discharge area of said dischargeopening, the first edge portion of said door plate opening located inall operative positions of said door plate between the first edge ofsaid discharge opening and said vertical wall part, the second edgeportion of said door plate opening defining in conjunction with saidfirst edge of said discharge opening the effective discharge area ofsaid discharge opening and having one limit position adjacent the secondedge of said discharge opening wherein said discharge opening iscompletely open and another limit position adjacent the first edge ofsaid discharge opening wherein the discharge opening is closed, saiddoor plate supporting means permitting oscillatory movement of said doorplate relative to said mounting plate in a direction generallytransverse to said shiftable movement of said door plate in varying theeffective discharge area of the discharge opening, a shiftable memberhaving an axis carried by said mounting plate, one end of said memberconnected to said door plate, the other end of said member defining acam follower located adjacent said vertical wall part, gauging meansincluding a cam surface carried by said vertical wall part, said gaugingmeans being located between said cam follower and said door plate, saidcam follower comprising a U-shaped portion off-set from the axis of saidmember and having inner and outer legs, the inner leg of said camfollower abutting said cam surface to position the second edge portionof said door plate a selected distance from said first edge of saiddischarge opening, said gauging means being movable to vary the locationof said cam follower relative to said mounting plate and to positionsaid door plate second edge portion said selected distance from saiddischarge opening first edge, and actuator rod means connected to theouter leg of said cam follower for shifting the second edge portion ofsaid door plate between its said limit positions.